Although a simple slip and fall in a store or other public establishment may initially seem to be minor, slip and fall accidents can often result in serious injuries. Some of these injuries may be merely temporary, but others can be catastrophic and permanent in nature.
When you experience slip and fall injuries as a result of another’s negligence, an Alexandria slip and fall lawyer may be able to help you pursue compensation for the costs of your damages. A consultation with a dedicated personal injury attorney from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers could help you learn more about your legal options.
How Slip and Fall Laws Work in Alexandria
Under Louisiana premises liability law, all landowners and occupants—including homeowners, commercial property owners, and even the owners of vacant lots or wooded areas—have a responsibility to exercise care and warn individuals of any hazards present on the property that could foreseeably lead to harm. As a result, property owners may be held liable in certain circumstances if a dangerous condition on their property leads to someone slipping, falling, and becoming injured.
In order to hold landowners liable for injuries occurring on their property, injury victims must prove that the landowners knew or should have known of the dangerous condition, that they failed to remedy or warn others of the condition, and that the victims had no reason to know of the condition and suffered harm as a result. An Alexandria slip and fall lawyer could help potential clients establish proof of all these prerequisite conditions.
For a free legal consultation with a slip and fall injury lawyer serving Alexandria, call (318) 777-7777
Merchants’ Liability in Slip and Fall Actions
The Louisiana state legislature enacted a specific statute that relates to the liability of certain property owners for slip and fall accidents. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes (RS) §9:2800.6, injured individuals must prove the following conditions exist in order to hold business owners liable for accidents resulting from slip and fall accidents:
- The cause of the slip and fall accident created an unreasonable risk of harm that was reasonably foreseeable
- The merchant created or had actual or constructive notice of the condition before the accident occurred
- The merchant did not exercise reasonable care in dealing with the cause of the slip and fall
The absence of cleanup or safety procedures alone is not sufficient evidence of a failure by a merchant to exercise reasonable care. Constructive notice, as defined by state law, means that the cause of the slip and fall accident existed for long enough that the merchant in question would have found it if they were exercising reasonable care.
However, the presence of the merchant at or near the condition does not constitute constructive notice, unless the merchant knew or reasonably should have known of the condition. This law applies to all individuals whose business is to sell goods or merchandise at a fixed place of business, including stores, restaurants, and lobby areas of hotels, motels, or inns.
Alexandria Slip and Fall Injury Lawyer Near Me (318) 777-7777
Awards You Could Receive in a Slip and Fall Case
A slip and fall lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers wants to take on your case and help you seek compensation for your losses. Some awards you could receive following a slip and fall accident include compensation for the following losses:
Medical Bills
We can seek compensation to cover all of your bills related to your slip and fall injury medical treatment. These could include:
- Emergency care costs
- Ambulance ride
- Hospital stay
- Surgery costs
- Prescription medications
- Medical devices
- In-home care costs
- Mileage reimbursement for doctor’s appointments
Please keep a record of all of your medical bills resulting from the accident. We can seek a settlement amount on your behalf to cover your costs.
Losses from Missing Work
If you had to miss work because of your injury, we can also seek compensation for your lost wages. Other losses related to work we can seek reimbursement for include:
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Lost benefits
- Lost retirement contributions
- Lost business opportunities
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are losses you suffered from the effects of the injury on your life. These include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Loss of consortium
While we cannot give you an accurate estimate of what you can recover now, we can tell you what you are entitled to after reviewing your case during your free, no-obligation consultation.
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Comparative Negligence in Slip and Fall Cases
According to Louisiana Civil Code (CC) §2323, the amount of compensation that injury victims are entitled to recover in slip and fall accidents or any type of personal injury claims depends on the degree of the victims’ fault. If injury victims were at fault to any degree for causing the accident that led to their injuries, they can still recover damages from other responsible parties.
However, their recovery would be decreased by an amount equal to the share of their own fault. Therefore, if injury victims are 10 percent at fault for the accident, then other parties who are at fault would be liable for only 90 percent of the victims’ damages. A knowledgeable slip and fall lawyer in Alexandria could provide further clarification about how much in damages a plaintiff could expect to receive.
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How Long You Have to File Your Case
You generally have one year following your slip and fall accident to file a lawsuit against the negligent property owner in Louisiana, according to CC §3492. A slip and fall lawyer serving Alexandria from our team can take on your case and ensure we file it on time.
We will ensure your rights to compensation stay intact.
Talk to an Alexandria Slip and Fall Attorney Today
Since you have a limited amount of time in which to pursue a personal injury claim, you should not hesitate to contact legal counsel at your earliest convenience following an accident that causes you harm. To get started on your case, call the legal team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (318) 777-7777 for your free consultation.
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